Articles posted April 9, 2001

Headlines and features from the Thoroughbred industry

The Broward County, Fla., Medical Examiners Office has positively identified the body found at the bottom of a South Florida canal Monday as trainer John Tammaro Jr., who had been missing since Feb. 25. There were no signs of trauma or foul play,though routine drug and alcohol tests were performed, and the results are pending.

A filly by freshman sire Gold Case and a colt by another freshman sire, Spinning World, were among the standouts Monday during the first under tack show for the Keeneland April sale of 2-year-olds in training. Both breezed an eighth of a mile in :10 over Keeneland's main track, which was labeled as fast. A Peaks and Valleys filly recorded an identical time at the same distance on the turf.

Ommadon, winner of his only start this year, will not run in Saturday's $750,000 Wood Memorial after suffering a bruised foot last Monday. The son of Grindstone, winner of last fall's Nashua Stakes, will now be pointed for the $200,000 Federico Tesio Stakes on Apr. 21, which could be used as a prep for the Preakness Stakes.

Though its future is imperiled by the prospect of head-to-head competition from Gulfstream Park and Calder Race Course, Hialeah Park posted strong numbers through its first three weeks of live racing. Buoyed by good weather, a resolution of its differences with the local horsemen's association, and an increase in field size, Hialeah recorded a 20% jump in total handle and a 3% increase in on-track attendance.

Steve Haskin, the award-winning turf writer and senior correspondent for The Blood-Horse, updates his top Kentucky Derby contenders weekly. During his 29 years with the Daily Racing Form, Haskin became known for his insightful coverage of the Triple Crown races. Haskin won the Red Smith Award for Kentucky Derby writing in 1997, 1999, and 2000.and received the David Woods Award for best Preakness story in 1997. In 1999, he co-authored "Baffert: Dirt Road to the Derby" with trainer Bob Baffert and wrote the book, "Dr. Fager" for Eclipse Press' "Thoroughbred Legends" series in 2000.

Arkansas-based stallion State Dinner, sire of champion and millionaire Family Style, died Sunday of a heart attack at Frazier's Farm near Bonnerdale. "He was watching the mares and babies go by when he collapsed," said Patsy Frazier, who owns the farm with her husband, Dude. "He was 26 years old, but looked like a 10-year-old."

Ol' Memorial Stable and Michael Tabor's A P Valentine turned in his final tune-up for Saturday's Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) when he worked five furlongs in 1:00 at Keeneland on Monday. The A. P. Indy colt, who was on the track shortly before the maintenance break, worked in company with the older Inca Slew.

It's rare to see perfection in a young colt prepping for the Kentucky Derby, but that's just about what we saw from Point Given in the Santa Anita Derby. Frankly, we can't think of anything left for this colt to prove. Taking every factor into consideration, other than soundness, we've got a horse who has the right trainer; the right jockey; the right pedigree; is a dual qualifier; is not only bigger and stronger than his opponents, but is also quicker and faster; can come from the clouds, lay in mid-pack, or stalk the leaders; can handle dry and wet tracks; and has already shown he likes Churchill Downs.